ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
An organization requires that financial transactions over $10,000 be approved by two different managers. This is an example of which access control principle?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Separation of duties
Separation of duties ensures that no single individual has complete control over a critical action, reducing the risk of fraud or error.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Separation of duties
Why this is correct
Separation of duties splits a sensitive transaction across two distinct approvers, so no single manager can authorise a payment alone. Requiring two different managers for transactions above $10,000 directly enforces this principle by preventing unilateral action and creating mutual oversight.
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Defense in depth
Why it's wrong here
Defence in depth layers independent controls so one failure does not grant access; it does not describe requiring two distinct approvers for a single transaction. It would be the answer where multiple overlapping safeguards, such as firewalls plus endpoint protection plus monitoring, collectively protect an asset.
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Need to know
Why it's wrong here
Need to know restricts access to information strictly required for a task; it governs data exposure, not the number of authorisers. It would be correct where an employee is denied payroll records despite holding a finance role, because those records are irrelevant to their duties.
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Least privilege
Why it's wrong here
Least privilege limits each account to the minimum rights needed for its function; it does not mandate two separate approvers per transaction. It would be correct where an administrator is granted only the specific permissions their role requires rather than full domain control.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Risk Management and Security Controls
Key term
Risk
Risk is the possibility that an event or action will negatively affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, often measured in terms of likelihood and impact.
Key term
Access control
Access control is the security practice of determining who or what is allowed to view, use, or enter a resource, and under what conditions.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CC exam.